Split air flow system

Abstract

A refrigerator includes an evaporator, a first fan, a first duct, a second fan, a second duct, and a plate. The first duct is mounted between the evaporator and the first fan. The first fan moves air from the first duct into a first zone. The second fan moves air from the second duct into a second zone. The plate is mounted between the evaporator and the second duct. The plate includes a plate aperture wall that defines a duct aperture formed through the plate. A first aperture of the second duct is adjacent the second fan. A second aperture of the second duct is positioned to encompass the duct aperture. A center of the duct aperture is positioned a distance from a center of the evaporator measured in a first direction. The distance is between 0% and 40% of a total length of the evaporator in the first direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A refrigerator comprising:
 an evaporator; 
 a refrigerator controller; 
 a compartment comprising
 a plurality of walls, wherein at least one of the plurality of walls is configured to be moved with respect to remaining walls of the plurality of walls to provide access to a cavity defined by the remaining walls; 
 a first temperature sensor configured to measure a first temperature value of air in a first zone within the compartment and to send the measured first temperature value to the refrigerator controller; and 
 a second temperature sensor configured to measure a second temperature value of air in a second zone within the compartment and to send the measured second temperature value to the refrigerator controller; 
 
 a first fan; 
 a first duct mounted between the evaporator and the first fan, wherein the first fan is configured to receive air from the first duct and to move the received air into the first zone when on; 
 a second fan; 
 a second duct mounted between the evaporator and the second fan, the second duct comprising a duct wall that forms a first aperture and a second aperture, wherein the second fan is configured to receive second air from the evaporator through the second duct and to move the received second air into the second zone when on; 
 a return duct mounted at least partially between the first zone or the second zone and the evaporator; and 
 a plate mounted between the evaporator and the second duct, wherein the plate is mounted on a first side of the evaporator between one of the remaining walls of the plurality of walls and the evaporator, wherein the first side is opposite a second side of the evaporator, wherein the second side is closer to the cavity than the first side, the plate comprising a plate aperture wall that defines a duct aperture formed through the plate, wherein the first aperture of the second duct is adjacent the second fan, wherein the second aperture of the second duct is positioned to encompass the duct aperture, wherein a center of the duct aperture is positioned a distance from a center of the evaporator measured in a first direction, wherein the distance is between 0% and 40% of a total length of the evaporator in the first direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator controller is configured to:
 receive the sent first temperature value; 
 receive the sent second temperature value; 
 compare the received first temperature value to a first temperature set value defined for the first zone; 
 compare the received second temperature value to a second temperature set value defined for the second zone; 
 control a flow of refrigerant through a coil of the evaporator based on the comparison between the received first temperature value and the first temperature set value and based on the comparison between the received second temperature value and the second temperature set value; 
 control operation of the first fan based on the comparison between the received first temperature value and the first temperature set value; and 
 control operation of the second fan based on the comparison between the received second temperature value and the second temperature set value. 
 
     
     
       3. The refrigerator of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a compressor connected to receive the refrigerant from the evaporator; 
 wherein the refrigerator controller is further configured to control operation of the compressor based on the comparison between the received first temperature value and the first temperature set value and based on the comparison between the received second temperature value and the second temperature set value. 
 
     
     
       4. The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein controlling operation of the compressor comprises:
 determining a first compressor speed for the first zone; 
 determining a second compressor speed for the second zone; and 
 selecting a highest compressor speed from the determined first compressor speed and the determined second compressor speed when both the first fan and the second fan are controlled on. 
 
     
     
       5. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises a plurality of plate aperture walls that define a plurality of duct apertures formed through the plate, wherein the plate aperture wall is one of the plurality of plate aperture walls. 
     
     
       6. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the plate covers a portion of the second duct. 
     
     
       7. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first zone is located above or below the second zone, and the first direction is a vertical direction. 
     
     
       8. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first zone is located to the left or to the right of the second zone, and the first direction is a horizontal direction. 
     
     
       9. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first duct and the return duct form a continuous duct defined by a common plurality of duct walls, wherein the evaporator is mounted within the continuous duct. 
     
     
       10. The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the continuous duct is defined by a second plate mounted between the evaporator and the first zone, wherein the second plate is mounted on the second side of the evaporator opposite the plate, the second plate comprising a plurality of vent aperture walls that define a plurality of vents formed through the second plate, wherein the plurality of vents is positioned between the first zone and the return duct. 
     
     
       11. The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the continuous duct is defined by a second plate mounted between the evaporator and the second zone, wherein the second plate is mounted on the second side of the evaporator opposite the plate, the second plate comprising a plurality of vent aperture walls that define a plurality of vents formed through the second plate, wherein the plurality of vents is positioned between the second zone and the return duct. 
     
     
       12. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein a drawer is mounted in the second zone. 
     
     
       13. The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the drawer is enclosed. 
     
     
       14. The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein a shelf is mounted between the drawer and the first zone, wherein the shelf extends between the remaining walls. 
     
     
       15. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the center of the duct aperture is positioned a second distance from the center of the evaporator measured in a second direction, wherein the second distance is between 0% and 40% of a total length of the evaporator in the second direction, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. 
     
     
       16. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a shroud comprising
 a shroud base plate; 
 a shroud fan aperture wall formed through the shroud base plate, wherein the second fan is mounted adjacent the shroud fan aperture wall; and 
 a plurality of shroud vanes that extend outward from the shroud base plate and that are configured to disperse the received second air into the second zone. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of shroud vanes is dispersed around the shroud fan aperture wall and shaped to direct a first portion of the received second air in a second direction projected into a vertical plane that includes a radial center of the second fan and to direct a second portion of the received second air in a third direction projected into the vertical plane, wherein an angle of the second direction differs from an angle of the third direction by at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
       18. The refrigerator of  claim 17 , further comprising a second plate mounted between the shroud and the second zone, the second plate comprising a first vent aperture wall formed through the second plate and a second vent aperture wall formed through the second plate, wherein the first vent aperture wall is positioned to receive the first portion of the received second air, and wherein the second vent aperture wall is positioned to receive the second portion of the received second air. 
     
     
       19. The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein the shroud fan aperture wall is horizontally and vertically aligned with the first aperture of the second duct. 
     
     
       20. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the second duct is formed as a depression in a liner wall mounted within a wall of the remaining walls.